In no particular order – writing/book-related advice in the form of letters, and inspired by actual potential-client correspondence.
(I have reproduced no clients' emails to me – and have removed all identifying factors from my own letters to them. Also, some letters are composites.)
- " Hi ________________
- "This is quite a long email – but with some good options further down, etc. And BTW, I find it interesting that I'm providing, at least in part, some legal-related info to a lawyer!
- The first two links, with info from two major publishers, present it in a fairly clear and detailed way.
- However, as the other links indicate – and as happens in real life! – it is not always as straightforward as you might think.
- It also might involve quite a bit of money, depending on the authors/ publishers you’re querying. As well, there’s the time factor – you might have to be prepared to wait 4 to 6 months to get permission.https://www.wiley.com/legacy/authors/guidelines/stmguides/3frames.htm https://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/copy_and_perms.pdf (please note: even though these sources may indicate requirements/ conditions for ‘allowable’ material, it still might create a problem!)
- https://selfpublishingmadeeasy.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/when-do-i-need-to-get-permissions/
- https://stevelaube.com/how-much-can-i-quote-from-another-source-without-permission/
- https://janefriedman.com/2012/01/23/permissions/
- https://www.junecotner.com/PT-ObtainingPermission.htm
- I also don’t think it’s something that can be "taken care of by someone specializing in it" – because (and even though I’d offered to try to find an expert to do it) I don’t think there is such a person or specialty. I.e., a consultant helping an author with a book might offer to do this as part of the job – but it would involve a lot of research, letters, followup – and still possibly having to wait months.
- "And just because one person/publisher does give permission re: certain details, doesn’t mean that the next one will, the same way. You have to do this process on an individual basis – and some individuals might ‘make’ things more difficult. Each also might specify certain conditions about a time limit on using the quoted material, or a geographical limitation, or according to how many copies of the book you are publishing, how large your projected audience is…or any number of things.?
- "And even if they did seem to agree/accept (and even signed something to that effect), there is no guarantee there might not be some other development. And some will take exception with any ‘standard understanding’ of copyrighted material, and might put more demands upon you than would another source.?
- "So even if I myself was to have a contract/letter of agreement with you about the details of how I’m helping you, I could never make any kind of promise that the work I do for you is going to prevent your being sued or having problems from using written and quoted material.
- What you/we are doing might be totally legally aboveboard and/or initially agreed to, in writing, by the other party – but they still might raise an issue.
- Of course, you could get around a lot of the potential problems by paraphrasing-and-describing, rather than quoting. And in fact, you want to take another look at your entire manuscript – if you want it to be really mainstream-reader-friendly, do you really want it to have as much quoted material/references as you’ve got?
- (Not sure how much you do have – but perhaps take another look at the whole thing, and decide whether you really are doing a book for Joe-and-Jane-Public – or for your industry – or maybe somewhere in-between, a balance for both (as I’ve indicated some books can be).
- "I would also advise you to do away with footnotes if you can – or at least bundle them all at the back of the book or end of each chapter. In any case – footnotes can be problematic in an e-book, where the whole format, "page" structure (or lack thereof) and way of reading can be totally different from a ‘real book.’
- "BTW, you’d mentioned ___________ etc. (and I’m certainly familiar with his books). He, and other motivational authors, often present concepts and self-help within a story framework, with a main character, supporting characters, etc. A wonderful way to get people connected with a larger idea, it might be something you’d like to think about.
- "If I were you, I might also use some of that time to try to get some beta readers and "ordinary people" to read the long manuscript, and see if it keeps their interest, and if they think it’s something they’d be likely to pick up (in a store or online), and actually pay for and read. I think their comments might be more useful, in a way, than those given by your industry colleagues (though both kinds of comments are valid).?
- "In the meantime, trying to do a short book, a lovely little "story" book, introducing some of your area of specialty in a storified kind of way, might be a great way to get some concepts out there, get people interested – and get them prepped to ultimately read a much longer non-fiction book. Otherwise, it might be a challenge to promote your book, the one you’re doing now.?
- "A short, fictional book (and inspired by books like_____________________________ could be both ‘everyday’ and significant – also could have a mystical quality – but in the here and now, and in a way a lot of readers could identify with – and even take place in a sort of setting a lot of people are familiar with…something like ___________________.
- "However – it’s still some work! I would advise, though, to make the book you’re already doing, somewhat more anecdotal, reaching out to the reader as "you" etc. – and try to move away from the "We ought" and "We should" approach, etc. As a reader, I also do not want to feel I am being talked down to and told things – rather than being allowed to go on a journey of discovery, and come to some conclusions of my own (assisted along the way) One good thing to keep in mind is "to show, not tell."?
- "Another suggestion is that you draw on news, everyday trends, current events etc. – and indicate instances where___________ is being used, in colourful/newsworthy instances – also how it is used in particular cultures – e.g., Canada’s First Nations people have a history of using their own kind of ___________
- But try not to use an academic approach – make it looser, down-to-earth, friendly, identifiable, etc. – and provide lots of colourful human anecdotes! – and each time, try to set the scene and bring the reader into it.?
- "BTW, I do love the concept of what you’re doing – and it has some great potential – I just feel it needs some work to make it more mainstream-friendly.
- "I’d be happy to read the entire manuscript you have now, and give you some detailed feedback on it. Of course that would require a fee, and payable in advance – the way The Writers’ Union of Canada offers (I am not in that union, but have belonged to the Professional Writers’ Association of Canada.)
- "Overall, I have read quite a lot of _________________books in my long writing/editing career, and have helped many authors with them (whether in writing, publishing guidance or promotion, etc.).
- Happy to talk further with you about this, though some of those client details must remain confidential re: their wishes. However, I can talk about one or two of them – and one major client (corporate/govt) has said I may talk about the book I did for/with him if I then put that new client under an NDA.?
- "Have me begin the permissions process? (however, it, i.e., the letter, still should come from you, in the sense that it is approved and signed by you, and is your responsibility).
- "Find someone to handle the permissions process? (I can do postings for this, and have the posting responses go to you)
- "Begin conceptualizing/writing a short inspirational ‘fiction’-type book, presenting some of your concepts and ideas in the story?
- "Help you find readers for your existing long manuscript, for some ‘regular-person’ feedback?
- "Read your existing long manuscript myself?
- "Begin helping edit and tweak your existing long manuscript, to make it more reader-friendly and involving?
- ?"Perhaps the best thing right now is for me to thoroughly read and give feedback on your manuscript as it is.
- I can indicate places where things could be paraphrased or written differently – also where you might use lots of anecdotes and reader-involvement – in helping him/her go on a kind of journey to some conclusions – and motivation!
- "If we can tackle that first, then we might find the ‘permissions process’ aspect gets down to a more manageable size ;-)?
- "Thanks, and I look forward to your feedback on some of what I’ve suggested. I’m keen to do whatever I can for you to help make your dream of this book come true...
